Automotive

By 2024, Tesla will be opening up 7,500 of its charging stations to non-Tesla EVs. The move arrives amid the Biden administration’s commitment to spend $7.5 billion USD on building 500,000 EV chargers across the United States as part of its plan to have EVs make up 50% of car sales by 2030.Tesla’s charging network is composed of both Superchargers and Destination Chargers. Out of the 7,500, the open chargers will include “at least 3,500 new and existing 250 kW Superchargers” located along major highways,” as well as Destination Charging at popular spots such as hotels and restaurants in both urban and rural locations.All EV drivers will be able to check out the charging station located closest to them using the Tesla app or website.Beyond that, Tesla has committed to doubling its full nati...

Under its newly-minted CEO, Koji Sato, Toyota has announced that it will be focusing its efforts on creating new electric vehicles “unique to Toyota and Lexus.” While the company has been dabbling in hybrid models for some time now, it only has one fully electric car, the bZ4X SUV. The company now says it plans to “accelerate” its approach to EV development.Toyota is now aiming for a 2026 timeline to debut “next-generation” EVs under the Lexus brand. The company says it will be working on "everything from the battery and platform to how a car is built optimized for BEVs."“To deliver attractive BEVs to more customers, we must streamline the structure of the car, and―with a BEV-first mindset―we must drastically change the way we do business, from manufacturing to sales and service,” Toyota s...

Mercedes‑Maybach has revealed its first-ever plug-in hybrid, the S 580 e, as part of Mercedes' larger electrification plans which saw the electric G-Class revealed last year. With a legacy that stretches back to 1909, Maybach founded by Wilhelm and Karl Maybach became a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz in 2015. The Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class in particular was first introduced in 2021, and has grown steadily in demand since.“With our first plug-in hybrid model, we are combining the luxury experience typical of Maybach with emission-free local driving when in electric driving mode. The Mercedes‑Maybach S 580 e represents a pivotal step in the transformation of our heritage brand into an electric future. We will present our first fully electric model as early as 2023,” writes Daniel Lescow, Head of M...

Last month, Stellantis debuted a prototype of its forthcoming electric Ram truck, a sleek and futuristic take on the iconic vehicle. Now, the automaker has returned with official images of the 2024 Ram EV.For the model, which is still in the pre-production phase, Stellantis seems to have shied away from its ambitious plans. Compared to the design of the prototype, the actual truck looks similar to the standard Ram.From the exterior, the Ram lacks the sharp, angular windows of the prototype, opting for a normal square-shaped window. And on the interior, the control screen is embedded in the dashboard, rather than the thin, floating panel shown in the initial design.While the model may have not lived up to its concept, Stellantis is still billing the truck as a reliable model that won’t leav...

Performance engineering company Hennessey has updated the Corvette C8 Stingway by pumping it with 708-Hp – ready to take on the race track.Passing up the 2023 Corvette Z06, the H700 Corvette C8 Stingway features a 6.2-liter V8 engine, 465 lb-ft of torque, a high-flow centrifugal supercharger, a muscular blower, an enhanced cat-back exhaust and more. What stands out about the performance update is that reveals a 44% increase in horsepower and a 37% increase in torque when compared to the car's factory version. Finishing off the car are 19 and 20-inch allow wheels that come in either brushed aluminum, satin black or graphite."The stock C8 Corvette Stingray is an extraordinary sports car, yet Chevrolet left some V8 performance on the table," said founder/CEO, John Hennessey. "Our exciting 'H7...

Lamborghini has officially unveiled the all-new Invencible coupé and Autentica roadster as a final salute to the Lamborghini V12 powertrain. The two one-off cars were styled by the Lamborghini Centro Stile team to reflect the design cues that have contributed to the company's prominence throughout the years.Arriving ahead of the automaker's transition to the hybrid era, both supercars pay tribute to the designs of Lamborghini's past icons including the Sesto Elemento with large rear wings, the Reventón with its unique aeronautical style, the Aventador with the same carbon fiber monocoque, the Sesto Elemento with the central triple exhaust, and Essenza SCV12 with an imposing bonnet and front splitter. Interiors are both dominated by clean lines, a minimalist dashboard, and cockpit framed in...

Range Rover has unveiled its all-new 2024 Velar SUV, featuring a reductionist design approach that offers a slew of high-tech upgrades. The car manufacturer has revamped the model several times since its introduction in 2017, though the 2024 model provides a much-needed move toward advanced connectivity.On the exterior, alterations are subtle: the new model includes new front and rear lights with technical, jewel-like constructions, a restyled grille and a new rear bumper. Additionally, the car is available in two new colorways: Metallic Varesine Blue and Premium Metallic Zadar Gray.Inside, the car receives some more obvious changes. The previous two-screen infotainment system is replaced with a new "floating" 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen display in the dashboard's center. Operating ...

RM Sotheby's recently auctioned off a one-of-a-kind Bugatti Chiron Profilée. The unique hypercar sold for $10.7 million USD, making it the most expensive new car ever auctioned. The vehicle sold earlier this week at the Paris auction, where the hypercar is also the last purely gas-powered Bugatti that will be ever sold. Not only is this the most expensive Bugatti sold at auction, it is also the most expensive Chiron. The sale of the Chiron Profilée has surpassed the pre-sale estimate of $4.6 million to $6 million USD. The bespoke model was originally intended to be put into production, however, the project was canceled after it sold all 500 slots earlier than expected. The car is finished in a model-specific Argent Atlantique and features a redesigned shape with a different front splitter ...

As tech aficionados patiently wait for the official reveal of the Apple Car, new details have emerged regarding patents and trademarks filed. While the tech giant has not made any major announcements regarding its electric vehicle, many have followed Apple's steps closely, keeping an eye on the types of patents that they are seeking. Most recently, Patently Apple reported that Apple has filed two new patents for its secretive Project Titan, relating to "adjustable tinting windows." Earlier this month, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published patent applications from Apple that are specifically related to adjustable exterior lighting systems for future semi and fully autonomous vehicles. According to the patent, Apple is seeking adjustable windows that may feature adjustable layers incl...

Ferrari has just released a short film that merges 75 years on a single timeline using three iconic sports cars. Named La Prova (The Test), the 10-minute film shared the journey of an artist who grows into his father's shoes with the aid of his father's Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, Ferrari Testarossa, then the 296 GTB.Created by Ferrari's arm in Hong Kong, Blackbird Concessionaires, the entire project was miraculously shot using only iPhones. Frank Liew of Blackbird Concessionaires comments, "One great thing about the filming process was that because everyone is so comfortable using a phone it led to a very cooperative environment during location visits. Almost everyone has an iPhone – so everyone involved on the team would have ideas about cool or interesting ways we could capture the a...